Map Guide
Navigate every corner of Hyrule across three vertical layers. This guide covers all 12 regions, 15 Skyview Towers, key landmarks, and essential navigation techniques to help you explore Tears of the Kingdom efficiently.


Maren
15
Regions
15
Towers
120+
Lightroots
152
Total Shrines
1000
Total Koroks
Interactive Hyrule Map
Explore Hyrule across all three vertical layers. Switch between Surface, Sky, and Depths tabs to view region boundaries. Click any Surface region to visit its detail page.
Loading interactive map...
Three Layers of Hyrule
Tears of the Kingdom expands Hyrule vertically with three interconnected layers. Each layer has its own map, fast-travel network, and unique challenges.
SKY
Sky Islands
Floating islands high above Hyrule, connected by Zonai launch pads and accessible via Skyview Towers. The Sky layer contains ancient Zonai ruins, sky shrines, Flux Construct battles, and dragon flight paths. Many Sky Islands hold unique armor pieces and Zonai device dispensers. The Great Sky Island serves as the tutorial area where Link awakens and gains all four core abilities.
Quick Tips
- Launch from any Skyview Tower to reach nearby sky islands
- Use Recall on falling debris to ride upward to higher platforms
- Sky Islands often have Zonai device dispensers with unique capsules
- Dragon flight paths cross the sky layer — land on them for rare materials
SURFACE
Surface
The familiar landmass of Hyrule featuring 12 distinct regions, villages, stables, towers, and the vast majority of quests and shrines. The Surface is the primary gameplay layer with diverse biomes ranging from volcanic Death Mountain to the frozen Hebra peaks. All major settlements, the four Regional Phenomena quests, and hundreds of side quests play out on the Surface.
Quick Tips
- Activate all 15 Skyview Towers to reveal the complete Surface map
- Stables serve as fast-travel points and quest hubs across every region
- Follow roads between regions for safer travel with fewer enemies
- Horses registered at stables can be summoned at any other stable
DEPTHS
The Depths
A massive underground cavern system mirroring the Surface map in reverse. The Depths are shrouded in complete darkness, navigated by throwing Brightbloom Seeds to create light. Lightroots scattered throughout serve as fast-travel points and dispel Gloom in their vicinity. The Depths contain Poe souls (currency for the Bargainer Statues), abandoned mines with Zonaite, and the fearsome Gloom Hands and Phantom Ganon encounters.
Quick Tips
- Every Surface shrine has a corresponding Lightroot directly below it in the Depths
- Brightbloom Seeds are essential — carry hundreds before descending
- Zonaite ore is abundant in the Depths and used for Zonai device upgrades
- Poe souls can be exchanged at Bargainer Statues for exclusive dark armor sets
Hyrule Regions
Hyrule is divided into 15 distinct regions, each with unique climate, landmarks, dangers, and rewards. Select a region for the full exploration guide.
Skyview Towers
All 15 Skyview Towers across Hyrule. Each tower reveals a section of the map and launches Link into the sky for paragliding reconnaissance.
Key Landmarks
Major villages, settlements, and notable locations across Hyrule. Each landmark offers quests, services, and unique experiences.
Navigation Tips
Master the map system to explore Hyrule efficiently. These tools and techniques will help you track discoveries, plan routes, and never miss a hidden location.
Pin System
Place up to 5 map pins simultaneously to mark points of interest. Use different colored pins to categorize locations — for example, yellow for unexplored shrines, blue for material farming spots, and red for dangerous enemy camps. Pins appear as beacons in the game world, visible from great distances.
Sheikah Sensor+
Upgrade the Purah Pad sensor at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab to track any item, enemy, or treasure chest you have photographed with the camera. The sensor pulses faster as you approach the target, making it invaluable for finding specific materials or locating the last few shrines in a region.
Fast Travel
Shrines, Skyview Towers, Lightroots, and the Travel Medallion all serve as fast-travel destinations. With 152 shrines, 15 towers, and over 100 Lightroots, the fast-travel network is dense. Place the Travel Medallion at remote locations you visit frequently but lack a nearby warp point.
Tower Launches
Skyview Towers launch Link high into the sky, providing a bird's-eye view of the surrounding terrain. Use this vantage point to spot shrines (orange glow), Korok puzzles, and points of interest before paragliding to your destination. Stamp interesting locations on the map while airborne.
Scope & Stamps
The Purah Pad scope lets you zoom in on distant terrain and place stamp markers. Use stamps liberally — they are unlimited and help track caves, treasure chests, enemy camps, and environmental puzzles spotted from afar. Combine scope usage with Tower launches for maximum map coverage.
Hero's Path Mode
Available after a certain point in the game, Hero's Path traces your movement history across the map. Use it to identify regions and areas you have not yet explored. Gaps in the green trail reveal unexplored territory where shrines, Koroks, and side quests likely remain undiscovered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many map layers are there in Tears of the Kingdom?
There are three vertical map layers: the Sky Islands above, the Surface (main Hyrule), and the Depths below. Each layer has its own map, fast-travel network, and unique challenges. The Depths mirror the Surface map in reverse.
How do you reveal the map in TotK?
Activate all 15 Skyview Towers scattered across Hyrule to reveal the complete Surface map. Each tower launches Link into the sky for a bird's-eye survey of the region. The Depths map is revealed by activating Lightroots underground.
How does fast travel work in Tears of the Kingdom?
You can fast travel to any activated Shrine (152 total), Skyview Tower (15), Lightroot (120+), or placed Travel Medallion. Open the map, select any unlocked fast-travel point, and confirm to teleport instantly. The Travel Medallion lets you place a custom warp point anywhere.
What is the connection between Lightroots and Shrines?
Every Lightroot in the Depths corresponds to a Shrine directly above it on the Surface, with its name spelled backwards. For example, the Iayusus Lightroot corresponds to Susuyai Shrine. Use this to navigate the Depths by referencing your Surface map.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo Switch — pick up your copy on Amazon
Affiliate disclosure: Hyrule Archive may earn a commission from purchases made through Amazon links on this site at no extra cost to you.
